Welcome to the BSTP trainee page
This page is dedicated to all pathologists training for examinations in veterinary pathology. Please check the education and event calendar pages of the website for up to date information about the BSTP Continuing Education Symposiums and conferences of interest. There is also a discussion forum available within the member’s area of the website which you are welcome to contribute to.
One of the BSTP’s main roles is to provide educational opportunities and CPD in toxicological and experimental pathology. The internationally recognised BSTP modules have recently been reviewed and updated to reflect current training and CPD requirements and have been renamed "Continuing Education Symposium" the symposiums are primarily aimed at providing education for trainees and those in the early stages of their career, but they may also provide an update for more experienced pathologists looking to increase their CPD. The BSTP also provide mock exams and other CPD events.
The BSTP Trainee Representative can be contacted via the Secretariat if you need any advice or have any comments - membership@bstp.org.uk
Examinations
The Royal College of Pathologists organises examinations in veterinary pathology and toxicology in the UK. Success in these exams is acknowledged with the FRCPath qualification.
Information regarding the European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP) or American College of Veterinary Pathology (ACVP) examinations is available on their websites.
RCPath Vet Path trainee registration system has been launched - veterinary pathology trainee registration
QuickPath to Boards is a Facebook group maintained by the Group for Research in Pathology Education (GRIPE). This page is beneficial for students in getting help with questions about Pathology when preparing for exams from faculty and other students. The page will also be used to suggest available pathology study materials.
Faculty members are also encouraged to join the private group to help provide answers and clarifications to the many questions that students may have. It's a great way to support students outside of the classroom.
The QuickPath to Boards group may be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/quickpath/.
Although a Facebook account is required to join the QuickPath group, no one will have access to your personal, non-public information.
Reading List
The suggested reading list has been updated. If you would like to contribute to this list please send (to the BSTP Secretariat) details of your preferred reference and textbooks!
VET PATH ANATOMIC PATH RECOMMENDED READING LIST 2017 (214.4 KiB, 1,200 hits)
RCPATH (PART 1 AND 2) RECOMMENDED READING LIST 2017 (252.8 KiB, 1,363 hits)
BURSARY OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY CAREER PATHOLOGISTS – 2025/2026
The BSTP are able to offer at least three free places on each of our Continuing Education Symposiums (CES).
Applications are welcomed from interested members and non-members of the BSTP and the awarding of funding will be at the discretion of the BSTP Council.
Priority will be given to individuals working within an “early career” environment, for example, postgraduate MSc or doctoral students working within a relevant scientific field, or veterinary pathology residents working towards a professional qualification and gaining more experience within the field of toxicological pathology.
In addition, if the successful candidate is not already a member of the BSTP, they will also receive a year’s free membership of BSTP.
The deadline for applications for CES 12: Cardiovascular System, due to take place in July 2025 is Friday 6th June 2025.
When applying you should submit the following:
- A brief CV.
- A covering letter stating why this particular CES is of interest to you.
- A letter from your supervisor/Head of Department confirming that you are working within an “early career” environment.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Complete and return a CES/meeting registration form (sent to the successful candidate after the award has been made).
- Attend the whole symposium.
- Write a short article (approx 500 words) describing their own research, a brief overview of the symposium, or a description of how the symposium has contributed to your training/professional knowledge (this may appear in the BSTP Newsletter).
- If not already a member of the BSTP, complete and return the membership application form (sent to the successful candidate after the award has been made).
Completed applications should be sent directly to the BSTP Secretariat to allow for a decision to be made by the BSTP Council. Successful applicants will be notified by the BSTP Secretariat in good time to register for the meeting.
The BSTP are happy for you to disseminate this information to your colleagues within your group.
Email: BSTP Secretariat – membership@bstp.org.uk
Criteria for the BSTP Trainee/Early Career Pathologist (TECP) – Reduced Registration Fees
For BSTP Continuing Symposium Events – 2025/2026
The BSTP Trainee/Early Career Pathologist (TECP) reduced registration fee is aimed postgraduate MSc or doctoral students and veterinary pathology residents plus non-qualified (i.e. not board certified) early career researchers at a research institute utilising pathology (e.g. <2 years in post).
When applying you should submit the following:
- A letter from your supervisor/Head of Department confirming your status.
- A brief CV.
- Registration form.
Requests to access the reduced fee should be sent directly to the BSTP Secretariat, if approved by Council, successful applicants will be informed. In the event that your request to access the reduced fee is unsuccessful, you will be notified so that you can decide whether you wish to proceed with your registration and/or whether you wish to register as an individual or access the group registration fee (i.e. 3 or more from the same company, completed registration forms should be emailed together).
The BSTP are happy for you to disseminate this information to your colleagues within your group.
Email: BSTP Secretariat – membership@bstp.org.uk
TRAVEL AND REGISTRATION BURSARIES - 2025/2026
For BSTP Annual Scientific Meetings (ASM), several bursaries of up to £500 to help towards the cost of travel and registration at the meeting may be available. In addition, if the successful candidate is not already a member of the BSTP, they will also receive up to 12 months free membership of BSTP.
There will also a number of bursaries which will enable free registration only.
Applications are welcome at any time from interested members and non-members of the BSTP. The awarding of funding will be at the discretion of the BSTP Council. Priority will be given to individuals working within an “early career” environment, for example, postgraduate MSc or doctoral students working within a relevant scientific field, or veterinary pathology residents working towards a professional qualification and gaining more experience within the field of toxicological pathology.
The deadline for applications for the 2025 BSTP/ESTP Annual Scientific Meeting will be midnight on Monday 12th May 2025 and all applications must be made by email to the BSTP Secretariat membership@bstp.org.uk
Applications will be assessed by the BSTP Council on merit. Priority may be given to candidates who have submitted poster abstracts to the meeting.
Criteria for application:
The applicant must submit a brief description of the relevance of the meeting to their training or career needs and provide the following information:
- A completed BSTP membership application form including:
- A brief CV
- A letter of recommendation from a supervisor or senior colleague (in lieu of recommendation from a BSTP member, if unavailable).
- Details of alternative funding that they will receive for the meeting
- Up to 3 suggestions for future educational activities/topics that would be helpful to their training
- If applicable, a poster abstract
Following the meeting and prior to receipt of the bursary funds the successful applicants must submit:
- A short article (approx 500 words) describing their own research, a brief overview of the meeting, or a description of how the meeting has contributed to their training/professional knowledge (this may appear in the members-only section of the website).
- An expense claim including receipts for expenses incurred in relation to the meeting (travel/registration).
By applying for the bursary, all applicants consent to their details being added to the BSTP mailing list and will automatically receive information on other events when it becomes available. Details will not be passed on to any other organisation without written permission.
The BSTP is registered with the UK Information Commissioners Office (ICO) - Data Protection Act and in addition to its UK responsibilities, the ICO has an international role including co-operation with similar organisations in the rest of Europe and with the European Commission.
Successful applicants will be notified by the BSTP Secretariat in good time to register for the meeting.
Slide Review Cases
Good online resources for slides include:
- AFIP Wednesday slide conference
- Veterinary Systemic Pathology Online (VSPO)
- Dr. John King's Necropsy Show and Tell
- "Guess What" section of the ESTP website
Useful Information
Please see our Meetings page for educational events (BSTP CES course) and conferences of interest.
Your contributions are welcome. Please contact us by e-mail to forward images of sections (jpegs preferred) and share your knowledge/ experience with other trainees.
